FR2705072A1 - System and method for programming at least one control apparatus of a motor vehicle. - Google Patents

Abstract

More particularly, the invention relates to the programming of a retrofitted control device as a new device or as a replacement. A comparison is made with the vehicle configuration data stored in the configuration memory (11) of the central control unit (10). In the event of a deviation or a mismatch, the data is entered into the relevant control unit (20 ') (which has just been installed as a new device or as a replacement device). Transcription is triggered and / or initiated from the newly installed control unit (20 ') by calling up current configuration data from the configuration memory (11). Applicable to automobiles with several control units, one of which has a central function and a non-volatile configuration memory.

Description

The invention relates to a system for programming at least one apparatus for

  automobile control means a device that is retrofitted as a new, retrofit, replacement or replacement device in a motor vehicle having a plurality of control apparatus having a central control a nonvolatile vehicle configuration memory, in which information about the nature and number of control devices present at a given moment in the vehicle, as well as the nature and equipment of the vehicle, in which all the control devices and said central control unit are connected by a bus system to each other with the possibility of communicating and the central control unit contains a programming program for distributing by the bus system and for generating the data loading configuration from its vehicle configuration memory in the different control devices, in which each of the control devices is provided with a bus function for receiving, selecting and storing the vehicle configuration data to be distributed to the control devices and in which, at least at each initialization of the programming program resides in the central control unit for the distribution of the vehicle configuration data by the bus system, these data are transmittable to the different control devices and

stored in these devices.

  DE 36 24 456 discloses an electronic system

  tronic for a motor vehicle comprising several

  electronic control devices for different

  positive. Control devices belonging to more

  similar devices contain

  program and fixed quantities which differ in

  accordingly. The control units are connected to a unit

  central control unit which, when the vehicle is put into

  and / or at regular intervals, controls the control devices and selects program steps and fixed variables belonging to the device concerned. The central control unit can be a

  part of a control unit and be coded from the outside

  depending on the type of vehicle. To this extent, the central control unit operates individually

  coordination between the control device and the

  vehicle-specific coordination, which may not affect fixed quantities or program steps which are still the same for several types of vehicles and which, to this extent, can be provided in some way as a framework firmware in appliances

order in question.

  The document DE 41 28 922 A1 describes in particular a programming device for electronic control devices in a vehicle, a device with which the type of the vehicle, during manufacture for example, and its signal is detected by means of identification. corresponding configuration data of the vehicle are prepared and these data are recorded by an external programming device in a device

  vehicle control. The programming apparatus ex-

  dull communicates with a main computer, also external, in order to prepare the programming data

  for the control unit each time specifically

to the vehicle.

  The object of the invention is to propose a system

  system and a method for programming at least one automobile control device to be upgraded or

  as a new appliance or as a replacement,

  so simple, safe and effective programming as

  possible of such a control apparatus.

  According to the invention, this result is obtained with a system of the generic type indicated at the beginning, in that - at least one of the control units is electrically powered permanently, even when the vehicle

  is at rest, and arranged so that his memory receives

  the vehicle configuration data loses its contents when the control unit in question is removed from the vehicle; and

  - the control unit powered electrically by

  manence, contains a resident programming program of its own and capable of recognizing an "unscheduled" electronic mark or, as such, the empty state of its non-persistent memory and using it as a criterion to initialize the apparatus of

  central control and, therefore, to

  the bus, the vehicle configuration data it needs and memorize them in a

non-remanent.

  The system according to the invention is based, in the

  vehicle, on a plurality of control devices

  linked together and to a central control device by

  a bus allowing them to communicate with each other. These appeals

  control devices and this central control unit,

  in the vehicle, may already have been

  linked, by the bus system, before their

original grammar.

  In the central control unit there is stored, to be resident, a programming program for distributing by the bus system and for causing the loading of configuration data from the vehicle configuration memory into the different

  control devices, and each of the communication devices

  Mande is equipped with a bus function for reception,

  selection and storage of configuration data

  vehicle to be distributed to the aircraft, the layout

  being such that, at least at each initialization of the pro-

  resident programming program of the communication device

  Central Office for the distribution of confidentiality data

  vehicle management by the bus system, these data are transferable to the different control devices

and can be stored there.

  According to the invention, the control apparatus of

  tomobile or at least one automobile control device to be retrofitted as a new, or mounted

  as a device to be upgraded or replaced, or as

  replacement, is electrically powered continuously, also when the vehicle is at rest, and arranged so that its memory receiving the data of

  vehicle configuration loses its content when the application

  the same order is removed from the vehicle. Of

  Furthermore, this device, electrically powered

  nence, contains a resident programming program of its own and capable of recognizing an "unscheduled" electronic mark or, as such, the empty state of its non-persistent memory and using it as a criterion for, autonomously, go

  search by bus for the configuration data of

  he needs in the vehicle configuration memory of the central control unit and the

  memorize non-remanently.

  Compared to conventional systems for targeted individual post-programming of

  order to be modernized, retrofitted or replaced

  This system not only offers the advantage that

  auxiliary equipment provided for in workshops for the re-

  configuration programming of control devices to be replaced, retrofitted or upgraded becomes

  superfluous. The invention also eliminates all

  problems, for example linked to strained plug-in contacts, between the vehicle and the

  which must be overcome in order to obtain the appropriate flow

  nabl-e signals with known solutions.

  The method allows the programming of at least

  an automobile control device in a vehicle

  tomobile which includes several control

  linked by a bus to be able to communicate,

  one of which, having a central function, is provided with a non-volatile vehicle configuration memory, in which information on the nature of the vehicle and its equipment, as well as on the equipment, can be stored.

  the nature and number of control devices

  at any given moment in the vehicle. According to the invention, this programming is carried out, in case of

  modernization or replacement of at least one of the

  control steps, by the following process steps: - initialization, from at least said retrofit control unit, retrofitted or mounted as a

  replacing, performing a comparison of

  contained in its memory, or their memories if more than one control device has been retrofitted, retrofitted or installed as a replacement, with

  the vehicle configuration data stored at

  dies in the configuration memory of the central control unit; and - in case of discrepancy or discrepancy of these data, transcription of these data in the control unit

  concerned (which has just been installed as a new

  cal or as a replacement), transcrib-

  which is triggered and / or provoked, from

  the control unit which has just been fitted as

  new equipment or as a replacement device, by

  pel current vehicle configuration data from

  the vehicle configuration memory.

  At the exchange or the after-the-fact addition of at least

  control device, reprogramming or

  The original grammage may therefore be carried out in the vehicle, without external assistance, directly from the vehicle configuration memory of the central control unit by initialisation and under the control of the new or installed as a replacement and marked "not yet programmed". Two exemplary embodiments of the system are shown in the drawing and will be described hereinafter; the process will be described next. In the drawing: - Figure 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the system; and - Figure 2 is a block diagram of a second

  exemplary embodiment of the system.

  According to FIG. 1, the system 1 comprises, in

  as a central component, a central control unit

  tral (ZSG) 10 which is always present, regardless of the individual equipment of the vehicle, and which contains a vehicle configuration memory (FKS) 11. The central control unit 10 is connected by a bus 12 to all control units 13 to 16, 17 and 18 and 19 and

20 contained in the vehicle.

  As regards the apparatuses 13 to 16, these may for example be control devices for managing the motor; the central unit 10 and the apparatus

  17 and 18 may be control devices which are

  in the passenger compartment of the vehicle; and devices 19 and can relate to independent functions,

  for example for assistance with parking, for

  flables, the control of ventilation, etc. As a system

  for example, a serial bus can be used

  two-wire according to the CAN standard or an optical bus.

  The vehicle configuration memory 11 in the central control unit 10 is of the remanent type; it is preferably a programmable read only memory (EPROM, EEPROM, FLASHPROM, etc.). For standard equipment, however, it is also possible to design a masked ROM. The memories or memory areas of the control devices 13 to 16, 17 and 18 and 19 and 20 may also be constituted by EPROM, EEPROM, FLASHPROM,

  etc., remanent. In this case, the configuration data

  vehicle are kept in a communication device.

  20 'removed from the vehicle and can therefore be read.

  In case it should not be possible -

  for example to allow free trade without

  such a device may also include only one RAM

  non-remanent for receiving configuration data

  as well as a programming program, stored in

  resident program, for the call and the reception of

  by the bus 12, configuration data from the central control unit 10 and their loading

  in said device-specific RAM area.

  At least one of the RAMs of a

  such control unit is then fed permanently

  nence from a voltage source not shown here, for example from the terminal TRENTE (+ Ub) in the vehicle which always has the voltage of the on-board network, independently of the ignition switch. So

  is possible a "pseudo-resident" memorization that allows

  as long as the control unit is left

  connected in the vehicle or while its power supply

tation is kept.

  Control devices 13 to 16, 17 and 18, 19

  and 20 or 20 'can, in the original mounting state,

  for example, a legible "non-programmed" marking

  electronically. This marking may monitor or interrogate

  manage the resident programming program of the central control unit 10 to, in the event of recognition, transfer data from its vehicle configuration memory 11 to control devices thus marked

to be stored there.

  This storage can be of resident type or type "pseudoresident". In the latter case, the

  programming program for a control unit cor-

  The respondent, having a configuration RAM, can, in order to extract the vehicle configuration data from the central control unit 10, detect in said RAM, as an activation criterion, a specific prior state. of his RAM memore after a lack of power, especially the result "empty state"

  a test-interrogation of the contents of the RAM.

  The non-volatile memory of vehicle configuration

  it can be designed to be installed or replaced at any time in the central control unit, with proper pinning, but it can also be mounted in a fixed manner in this device; in the context of the invention, one can therefore consider all the common possibilities for the residual storage of vehicle configuration data in the device of

central control.

  Figure 2 shows an exemplary extended embodiment in this regard. At the central control unit 10 is coordinated in this case a configuration memory

  vehicle 11 which is preferably incorporated fixed.

  The central control unit 10 is connected by a path

  transmission / reception 24 in Part 23B, in solidarity with the

  23. The other part 23A of this connection is connected by lines 22 to an external test apparatus 21, which can itself be connected by a data line 25 to a reader 29 which detects data characterizing the type of vehicle and its

  equipment in equipment on a data carrier co-

  ordered to the vehicle being manufactured, and who

  transmits in the test apparatus 21.

  In this case too, the vehicle configuration memory 11 is preferably of the remanent type; the links 22 and 24 may be electrical, optical or mixed, electrical and optical. The system is arranged so that the remanent programming in the vehicle configuration memory there of the control unit

  10 of the vehicle configuration data is

  fectue, which is preferable, in a preliminary step

  independent of the programming of other

order.

  According to FIG. 2, the system may further comprise, in the vehicle or on the central control apparatus 10, a push button, a switch or an order transmitter 27 activated by a safety device not shown and connectable by a line 28 to

the device 10.

  On activation or activation of this

  your push-button, switch or command transmitter,

  central control unit 10 is initialized to call the control units 13 to 20 connected to the bus for a comparison of the stored configuration data

  in these different devices and the memory of configura-

  vehicle 11 and, in case of discrepancy or non-concen-

  of these data, to initiate or provoke their

  transcription in the device or devices

  13 to 20 'corresponding with the confi-

current vehicle management.

  According to the process according to the invention, the

  The control signals are programmed as follows: the test device reads the data stored on or in a data carrier integral with the vehicle;

  - these configuration data are transmitted directly

  or derived configuration data is transmitted to the central control apparatus containing the vehicle configuration memory; - the configuration data transmitted to the central control unit are remanently stored in the vehicle configuration memory of this unit;

  - from the test device, is initialized a

  resident programming program of the communication device

  central control unit for distribution by the

  bus vehicle configuration data and the initial

  the selective reception of this data by the various control devices; and - the configuration data, received selectively by the control devices, are written in zones

  of resident memory of the control devices

tors.

  In the case of replacement carried out in the context of the maintenance of a control apparatus 20 given by an apparatus 20 ', subsequent mounting of one or more other new control apparatus, or mounting of a control apparatus from another vehicle, this

  device or these control devices is or are

  alternatively, in accordance with the current vehicle configuration, as follows:

  - from the central control unit 10, is initiated

  tialized the execution of a comparison of the data con-

  naked in memory areas of control devices

  13 to 20 'connected to the bus with the configuration data

  vehicle stored in a resident manner in the

  11 of the central control unit

  tral 10; and - in case of discrepancy or non-agreement of these data, the transcription of at least this data in the control apparatus 20 'concerned (newly added or replaced), is triggered or caused, from the central control apparatus 10, by current vehicle configuration data to be transmitted from the memory

vehicle configuration 11.

  As a variant with respect to these steps of

  given, appropriate programming can also be done by the following steps:

  the control apparatus 20 ', mounted afterwards as an ap-

  such new or replacement, initializes the execution

  a comparison of data stored in his computer.

  moire with the vehicle configuration data stored resident in the configuration memory 11 of the central control unit 10; and - in case of discrepancy or non-agreement of these data, their transcription in the control apparatus 20 'concerned (newly added or mounted as a replacement device) is triggered or provoked, starting from

  this control apparatus 20 ', by means of configuration data

  current vehicle to be called from the vehicle.

  moire of vehicle configuration 11.

Claims (2)

  I. System for programming at least one control device of a motor vehicle, a device which is to be retrofitted as a new appliance, to be upgraded, replaced or fitted as a replacement in a motor vehicle having one or more appliances control including a centrally-operated control device   is provided with a non-volatile memory of configuration of   in which information can be stored.   on the nature and number of   at any given moment in the vehicle, as well as   on the nature and equipment of the vehicle, in the-   which all the control devices and said central control unit are connected by a bus system to each other with the possibility of communicating and the central control unit contains a programming program for distributing by the bus system and for generating the load configuration data from its vehicle configuration memory in different   control apparatus, and in which each of the   command line is provided with a bus function for receiving, selecting and storing the vehicle configuration data to be distributed to the devices   in which, at least at each initialisation,   the resident programming program of the central control unit for the distribution of   vehicle configuration by the bus system, these data   are communicable to the various communication devices   Means and memorizable in these devices, characterized in that - at least one of the control devices (13 to 20 ') is permanently electrically powered, even when the   vehicle is at rest, and arranged in such a way that its   moire receiving vehicle configuration data   lose its contents when the control device in ques- is removed from the vehicle; and   - the control unit (13 to 20 ') supplied with electricity   permanently, contains a program of program-   of its own and capable of recognizing an "unscheduled" electronic mark or, as such mark, the empty state of its non-persistent memory and using it as a criterion to initialize the central (10) and, therefore, to fetch   autonomously, by the bus (12), the data of confi-   vehicle management he needs and memorize them non-remanently.   2. Method for programming a communication apparatus   automobile in a motor vehicle that   carries several control devices interconnected to communicate, one of which, having a central function, is provided with a non-volatile memory of   vehicle configuration, in which may be   information about the nature of the vehicle and its equipment, as well as the nature and number of control devices present at a given moment in the vehicle, characterized in that at least said control device (20 '), at case where it is mounted afterwards or   as a replacement device on the vehicle, is   grammable by the following steps: - initialization, from at least said control device (20 ') retrofitted, modernized or mounted as a replacement, of the execution of a comparison   data contained in its memory, or of their   moires if several control devices have been fitted   after the fact, modernized or mounted or as a replacement   with the vehicle configuration data stored   permanently in the configuration memory (11) of the central control unit (10); and - in case of discrepancy or discrepancy of these data, transcription of these data in the control unit   (20 ') concerned (which has just been set up as a   new or as a replacement),   transcription that is triggered and / or provoked,   from the control device (20 ') which has just been mounted as a new apparatus or as a replacement device, by the current vehicle configuration data call of the vehicle configuration memory ( 11).